John Mucha III is a Member of Dawda, Mann, Mulcahy & Sadler, PLC. He concentrates his practice in the areas of land use planning and general civil litigation, including commercial, construction, real property, tort, and non-compete matters.

John has considerable experience representing businesses and property owners in a broad range of general business litigation, including breach of contract disputes and claims involving the sale and leasing of real property. He has also litigated and successfully resolved land contamination matters as well as cases involving personal injury, property damage, and other torts. John has assisted both employers and executives with confidentiality and non-compete issues including the drafting of agreements, and the resolution of disputes. His expertise encompasses all phases of the litigation process from initial pleading and discovery stages to trials, appeals and the negotiation of settlements.

With respect to land use, zoning and planning matters, John has successfully guided owners, developers, and retailers through the applicable governmental approval processes. He has also successfully litigated land use disputes in both administrative hearings and in court.

John has also successfully argued cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals and is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Michigan. He has served as the Chair of the State Bar of Michigan Litigation Section, which has over 1,900 members, and he currently serves as an elected representative to the State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association and the American Bar Association and has been recognized as a top Michigan lawyer by both DBusiness magazine and SuperLawyers.

John earned his JD from the University of Michigan in 1987, where he received an award for writing and advocacy, and was Contributing Editor to the Michigan Journal of Law Reform. He also earned a Master of Public Policy degree in 1979 and a B.A., with distinction, in 1977 from the University of Michigan. John is a frequent contributor to legal journals and publications and is also an active member of Rotary International, having served as the President of the Birmingham (Michigan) Rotary Club.

John Mucha III

Member
Associations
  • State Bar of Michigan Labor & Employment Law, Real Property, Negligence Law Sections Member
  • State Bar of Michigan Litigation Section Past Chair
  • Oakland County Bar Association Member
  • American Bar Association Litigation, Labor & Employment Law, Construction, Tort & Insurance Practice Sections Member
  • Birmingham (Michigan) Rotary Club Member President, 2004; Vice President, Endowment Fund
  • State Bar of Michigan Representative Assembly (6th Circuit), 2010-2014
  • Michigan Defense Trial Counsel Secretary – Board of Directors
  • Defense Research Institute Member
  • Construction Association of Michigan Member
  • International Council of Shopping Centers Member
  • Henry Ford Hospice Council of Advisors Member
Classes/Seminars
  • Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2014, “Deposition Techniques and Skills” Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2000, “The Name of the Game is Damages” National Business Institute, 2013, “Business Contracts A to Z”
  • National Business Institute, 2009, “Update on New Developments in Application of Rules of Evidence”
  • National Business Institute, 2008, “Practical Guide to Zoning and Land Use Law” University of Michigan Law School, 2014, Professional Responsibility Trainer
  • University of Michigan Law School, Moot Court Judge
Education
  • The University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, 1987 J.D. Law Review: University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform Contributing Editor
  • The University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy, Ann Arbor, 1979 Master of Public Policy Studies
  • The University of Michigan College of Literature, Ann Arbor, Science and Arts, 1977 B.A. Honors: With Distinction
Bar Admissions
  • Michigan, 1987
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1987
Honors And Awards
  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© – Commercial Litigation, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Real Estate, 2020–2023.
  • One of 30 attorneys selected to the “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2018 – Michigan Lawyers Weekly
  • Top Lawyer: Commercial Law – DBusiness, 2020
  • Top Lawyer: Litigation – Construction – DBusiness, 2020
  • Top Lawyer: Construction Law, Land Use & Zoning, Litigation – Commercial – DBusiness, 2010, 2014, 2016-2019
  • Named to Michigan Super Lawyers Top 100 list – 2015–2021 Selected to Michigan Super Lawyers list – 2010-2021
  • Named to Michigan Business Super Lawyers Top 50 list – 2016-2018
  • Listed in Leading Lawyer: Commercial Litigation, Employment Law: Management, Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation Law, and Real Estate Law: Commercial – Since 2017
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated – LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell® – Since 1999 AVVO Rated Top Lawyer – 2017